9 years
ago, yesterday (May 22), “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” debuted on 62nd
Cannes Film Festival. Johnny Depp wasn’t part of the cast, but due to the Heath
Ledger’s shocking death, he helped the director of the movie (and also his
friend) Terry Gilliam, to film some parts of the movie as a respect for Ledger’s
work, and stared as one of Ledger’s transformation through a dream world. The
movie was released mostly in film festivals during 2009 and 10 months
later, in January 2010, it was finally released worldwide.

>
Synopsis: Dr. Parnassus, the leader of a traveling show, has a dark secret.
Thousands of years ago he traded the soul of his daughter, Valentina, to the
devil. Now the devil has come to collect his prize. To save her, Parnassus must
make a final wager: Whoever collects five souls first will win Valentina. Tony,
a man saved from hanging by Parnassus’ troupe, agrees to help collect them,
with his eye on marrying Valentina.

>
Curiosities:

*

Depp was
the first and best choice to make Heath Ledge’s scenes. Terry Gilliam called
him first asking if he would be interested in playing Ledge’s characters in
certain scenes, and if he did, he would ask Collin Farrell and Jude Law to
assume the other transformations of the same character.

*

At that
time Johnny was already filming “Public Enemies”, and Gillian only had a day
and three hours of Depp’s time. So he was the first to film his scenes in one
single take. Also, if the audience liked his transition, they would film the
next two with Farrell and Law. Once finished, Depp head back to Chicago to keep
filming Public Enemies. Depp appears in the movie for less than 6 minutes.

*

Even Tom
Cruise was interested in being involved, but Gilliam didn’t really want him in
the movie. He also had never been a close friend of Ledger and the director
wanted to keep it to family.

*

During
the filming, Depp asked if he could ad-lib the line “Don’t shoot the
messenger”, and it surprised the director, because he didn’t know that this
line was exactly the last said by Ledger on set. In the movie, Depp says “Don’t
kill the messenger, baby”

*

Depp, Farrell and Law donate all their incomes received to Ledge’s daughter Matilda. At that time she was only 2 years old.

* Depp also
worked with Collin Farrell and Jude Law again, years later, now on Fantastic
Beasts 2016 and 2018 films.

20 years
ago, today (May 22), “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” was released on the USA theaters.
Johnny Depp plays Raoul Duke the alter-ego of the American journalist, author,
and Depp’s friend, Hunter S. Thompson. The film is considered by critics and
some fans, as one of the most controversial, weird, worst, but cult films of Depp’s career. It was released
in many places as +18 due to pervasive extreme drug use, bizarre
behavior, strong language, and brief nudity.

> Synopsis: The trippy movie follows Raoul Duke (Johnny
Depp) and Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) on a drug-induced road trip to Las Vegas
for an article Duke is writing on the Mint 400 motorcycle race. Throughout
their travels, they consume several hallucinogenic and psychoactive drugs
inciting chaos wherever they go.

>Curiosities:

* Johnny
claims didn’t have used any drugs during the filming. He thinks is funnier when
it’s only represented.

*

Johnny
really shaved his head. Hunter S. Thompson, did it with a straight razor, while wearing a miner’s helmet in his own kitchen. Depp refused to look the
mirror, but had to keep it for four months.

*

Depp took
the gorilla statue outside the Bazooko Circus, to his own front yard.

*

Thompson
let Depp borrow his own clothes for the movie, and taught himself his
mannerisms and proper vocal for the role. Depp also lived on Thompson house in Woody
Creek, Colorado, for almost 4 months before the filming. He slept on the basement
and used to smoke while lying on the bed. But he had to stop after discover almost
a week later that he was sleeping next to powder barrels.

*

Depp’s agenda
is so busy that while he was finishing the movie, he already had another one to
make: “The Astronaut’s Wife”

*

Thompson
died in 2005 and the $3 million funeral was funded by Depp. His ashes were
launched from a giant cannon, high over the heads of his family and 280 friends, between red, white, blue and green fireworks. It was Thompson’s last wish.

*

Depp and Benício
Del Toro appear again in a small animated crossover thirteen years after, now
in “Rango”.